Foundation protector system

ABSTRACT

A foundation protection system for the exterior surface of a foundation wall has a membrane of plastic material on the exterior surface of the foundation wall, the membrane having a marginal edge portion, and a support strip extending along the entire marginal edge portion of the membrane. The membrane and the securement member have interengaged projecting and recessed portions, with fasteners penetrating through the support strip and the membrane into the foundation wall and thereby securing the support strip and the membrane to the foundation wall. The support strip may have a flexible flange in sealing contact with the foundation wall upwardly beyond the marginal edge portion of the membrane along the entire length of the marginal edge portion of the membrane. A slot-shaped recess extends along the support strip for temporarily holding nails or screws during installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to surface coverings and is useful,more particularly, for foundation protection systems and for securementstrips for use in such systems.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] For protecting a foundation wall against the effects of moisture,it is known to install against the exterior surface of the foundationwall a foundation protector sheet or membrane which is made ofwaterproof material and which is dimpled, so that the dimples of suchsheet or membrane can be placed against the exterior surface of thefoundation wall to allow moisture to seep downwardly through spacesbetween the dimples, between the protector sheet or membrane and theexterior surface of the foundation wall.

[0005] The dimples of the foundation protector sheet or membrane, whichproject from one side of the foundation protector sheet or membrane,form corresponding recesses in the opposite side of the foundationprotector sheet or membrane.

[0006] During the installation of the foundation protector system, andafter the foundation protector sheet or membrane has been installed onthe foundation wall exterior surface, the foundation is backfilled and,consequently, soil is pressed against the outer surface of the protectorsheet or membrane and into the recesses. When this occurs, and duringsubsequent subsidence of the ground around the foundation wall, thissoil tends to drag the foundation protector sheet or membrane downwardlyand away from the foundation exterior surface.

[0007] To counteract such displacement of the foundation protector sheetor membrane from its correct position on the foundation wall exteriorsurface, fasteners of various types have been previously employed. Forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,309, issued Feb. 25, 2003 to ShaneFinley, there is disclosed a fastening plate for securing a membrane toa substrate, the fastening plate being shaped to interengage recesses inthe outer surface of a foundation protector membrane and to be securedto the substrate by a nail driven through the fastening plate andthrough the foundation protector or membrane into the substrate.

[0008] In use, a plurality of such fastening plates is required to bespaced apart along the foundation protector membrane.

[0009] However, it has been found, in practice, that the use of suchfastening plates is unsatisfactory because the foundation protectormembrane is dragged downwardly, in the above-described manner, and sagsbetween the fastening plates. These prior fastening plates, therefore,do not effectively seal the entire edge of the foundation protectormembrane and it is consequently necessary, in practice, to caulk theedge of the foundation protector membrane.

[0010] Therefore, the use of such spaced apart fastening plates requiressome means other than the fastening plates themselves to close and sealthe gaps between the surface of the substrate or foundation wall and thefoundation protector membrane along the top of the foundation protectormembrane.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided asecurement strip for securing a marginal edge portion of a foundationprotector sheet to a foundation wall, the foundation protector sheethaving projections on one side thereof for abutment against thefoundation wall and recesses on opposite sides thereof, with spacesbetween the projections, the securement strip comprising a first portionextending along the securement strip and formed with protrusions forengagement in the recesses in the foundation protector sheet, and asecond portion extending along the first portion, the second portioncomprising a flexible flange extending at an angle from the firstportion for flexed engagement with the foundation wall above thefoundation protector sheet so as to close the spaces between theprojections of the foundation protector sheet, the first portion beingadapted to receive fasteners for fastening the securement strip and,therewith, the foundation protector sheet to the foundation wall.

[0012] When the securement strip according to the present invention isin use, the length of the securement strip is selected so that it islong enough to extend, by itself or together with one or more similarsecurement strips, along the entire length of the foundation protectorsheet so as to ensure that the foundation protector sheet is supportedalong the entirety of the foundation protector sheet to prevent moistureand soil from entering between the top of the foundation protector sheetand the foundation wall.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a sealing strip, e.g.of foam material, is provided along the length of the flexible flangefor sealing the latter to the foundation wall.

[0014] Also, a slot-shaped recess is formed along the securement stripfor receiving and gripping the tips of nails or screws. This greatlyfacilitates the installation of the securement strip, since one or morenail or screw tips can be inserted into this recess before thesecurement strip is interengaged with the foundation protector sheet,thereby enabling the person carrying out the installation to employ bothhands for gripping and positioning the securement strip and, ifnecessary, for simultaneously gripping and adjusting the upper edge ofthe foundation protector sheet. Also, the slot-shaped recess enablesnails or screws to be employed at any position along the marginal edgeportion of the waterproof sheet, and therefore avoids problems whichwould otherwise arise when, for example, a waterproof sheet of metricdimensions is attached to a building foundation of imperial dimensions,which may occur for example when the foundation protector is applied towood or IF foundations.

[0015] The insertion of nails at any position along with the length ofthe securement strip is also particularly advantageous when thesecurement strip is installed around a corner of the foundation wall.

[0016] Also according to the present invention, there is providedsurface covering on a substrate, comprising a membrane of plasticmaterial, the membrane having a marginal edge portion, a securementmember extending along the marginal edge portion of the membrane, themembrane and the support strip, in this case a securement member, havinginterengaged projecting and recessed portions, the support strip havinga flexible marginal portion extending upwardly into sealing contact withthe substrate beyond the marginal edge portion of the membrane along theentire length of the marginal edge portion of the membrane, andfasteners extending through the support strip and the membrane into thesubstrate and thereby securing the support strip and the membrane to thesubstrate.

[0017] The invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 shows a broken-away view, in perspective, of a part of afoundation wall provided with a foundation protector system embodyingthe present invention;

[0019]FIG. 1A shows a broken-away portion in perspective of a part of asecurement strip forming a component of the system of FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 2 shows a view in front elevation of the foundation wall andthe foundation protector system of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 3 shows a view taken in vertical cross-section through thefoundation wall and foundation protector system of FIG. 1;

[0022]FIG. 4 shows a broken-away view, in vertical cross-section,through parts of a foundation wall and a modification of the foundationprotector system of FIG. 1;

[0023]FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show broken-away views, in verticalcross-section, through parts of modified foundation protector sheets;

[0024]FIG. 8 shows a broken-away plan view of overlapping ends of a pairof securement strips;

[0025]FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 show broken-away views in perspective ofinterengageable portions of foundation protector sheets and securementstrips;

[0026]FIG. 12 shows a modified securement strip according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 show broken-away views in perspective ofsecurement strips with various forms of protrusions and recesses in thefirst portion of the securement strip, according to other embodiments ofthe invention;

[0028]FIG. 13A shows a broken-away view, in vertical cross-section,through parts of a foundation wall and a foundation protector systememploying the securement strip of FIG. 13;

[0029]FIGS. 17 and 18 show broken-away views in perspective ofsecurement strips with protrusions and recesses in an opposing side ofthe securement strip according to other embodiments of the invention;

[0030]FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 show perspective views of angled securementstrips according to other embodiments of the invention;

[0031]FIGS. 21 and 22 show broken-away views taken in side elevation oftwo forms of securement strips and foundation protector sheets.

[0032]FIGS. 23a-g show plan views of securement strips havinginterconnecting formations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0033] Referring firstly to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, thereis shown a foundation wall indicated generally by reference 10 having anexterior surface 12. A foundation protector sheet or membrane 14 islocated on the exterior surface 12 of the foundation wall 10.

[0034] The foundation protector sheet 14 is a dimpled sheet formed atone side thereof with a plurality of protrusions 16, in the form ofdimples of frusto-conical cross-sectional shape, which project towardand abut the exterior surface 12 of the foundation wall 10. Each ofthese protrusions 16 forms, at the opposite side of the foundationprotector sheet 14, a corresponding frusto-conically shaped recess 18.

[0035] Along the entire length of a marginal edge portion 19 of thefoundation protector sheet 14, which may e.g. be a horizontal marginaledge portion or a vertical marginal edge portion of the foundationprotection sheet 14, there is provided at least one securement strip,indicated generally by reference numeral 20. The securement strip 20 isextruded from high density polyethylene, but may alternatively be madefrom low density polyethylene or partly propylene and any other suitableplastic material, and may be of any desired color. The securement strip20 is formed, at an inner side thereof, with a plurality of protrusions22 (FIG. 1A). These protrusions 22 have a frusto-conical cross-sectionalshape complementary to that of the recesses 18, and the protrusions 22are spaced from one another in an array corresponding to that of therecesses 18 in such a manner that the protrusions 22 on the securementstrip 20 can engage in respective ones of the recesses 18 along amarginal edge portion 19 of the foundation protector sheet 14.

[0036] The securement strip 20 is formed with nail holes 24, which aredistributed along the length of the securement strip 20. Nails 25 (FIG.2) can be driven through these nail holes 24 and through the foundationprotector sheet 14 into the foundation wall 10 to fasten the securementstrip 28, and therewith the marginal edge portion 19 of the foundationprotector sheet 14, into position on the exterior surface 12 of thefoundation wall 10. It used to be understood that, in some cases, thenails 25 may be replaced by screws (not shown).

[0037] The securement strip 20 includes, along its entire upper edge, aflexible flange 26 which is angled from the securement strip 20 towardthe exterior surface 12 of the foundation wall 10. More particularly, ascan be seen from FIG. 2, the flexible flange 26 has an outer edge 28which is pressed against the exterior surface 12 of the foundation wall10 when the securement strip 20 is secured to the foundation wall 10 bythe nails 25. The flexible flange 26 serves to seal the securement strip20 to the exterior surface 12 of the foundation wall 10 and, thereby, toprovide a seal, above the upper edge of the foundation protector sheet14, to the exterior surface 12 so as to prevent moisture andcontaminants from passing downwardly between the foundation protectorsheet 14 and the exterior surface 12 through the gaps or spacingsbetween the protrusions 16 of the foundation protector sheet 14.

[0038] The sealing of the flange 26 against the surface 12 may beenhanced, as illustrated in FIG. 4, by the provision of a sealing strip28 provided on the flexible flange 26 and extending along the entirelength of the flexible flange 26. This sealing strip 28, which ispreferably made of foam material, is compressed between the flexibleflange 26 and the foundation wall exterior surface 12.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 4, the securement strip 20 is providedwith a plurality of prongs 30, which are spaced apart along the flexibleflange 26, at the side of the sealing strip 20 facing the foundationwall 10. These prongs 30 extended downwardly from the flexible flange 26and, during installation of the foundation protector system, can behooked over the marginal edge portion 19 of the foundation protectorstep 14 so as to temporarily hold the protector strip 20 in positionrelative to the top of the foundation protector sheet 14 while thesecurement strip 20 and the foundation protector sheet 14 aremanipulated into position on the foundation wall exterior surface 12.

[0040] The side of the securement strip 20 which faces away from theexterior surface 12 of the foundation wall 10 is formed, along theentire length of the securement strip 20, with a longitudinallyextending, slot-shaped recess 32. This recess 32 is dimensioned toreceive and grip the tips of nails, and thereby to temporarily retainthe nails in position relative to the securement strip 20, during theinstallation of the foundation protector system. When the foundationprotector sheet 14 and to the securement strip 20 have been properlypositioned on the exterior surface 12 of the foundation wall 10, thesenails can then be hammered through the securement strip 20 and thefoundation protector sheet 14 into the foundation wall 10. The recess 32thereby facilitates the installation of the foundation protector systemby a person who can use both of his hands to grip and position thesecurement strip 28 and the top of the foundation protector sheet 14without requiring that person to use one of his hands to hold the nailsin position relative to the securement strip 20.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the protrusions 22 are solid. However, thesesolid protrusions may be replaced by hollow protrusions as shown in FIG.5, 6 and 7. The protrusion shown in FIG. 5, and indicated generally byreference numeral 23 is a hollow protrusion having a cylindrical hollowinterior 25 which opens at the side of the securement strip oppositefrom the protrusions 23, while FIG. 6 shows a protrusion 27 having acylindrical opening 29 open at opposite sides of the securement strip.In FIG. 7, there is shown a protrusion 31 having a hollow interior space33 which is open toward the foundation wall 10.

[0042] The securement strip 20 may, in practice, be one of a pluralityof securement strips extending along the marginal edge portion of one ormore foundation protector sheets. In that case, the securement stripsmay have overlapping end portions 35 and 37, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0043] Since the purpose of the protrusions on the securement strip isto support the foundation protector sheet against downward displacement,the lower halves of the protrusions 22 may be omitted, as shown, forexample, in FIG. 9, in which protrusions modified in this manner areindicated by reference numerals 40, which are semi-cylindrical and whichare shaped and dimensioned to interengage with cylindrical recesses 42in the foundation protector sheet.

[0044]FIG. 10 shows chevron-shaped protrusions 44 on the securementstrip for engagement in upper portions of rectangular recesses 46 in thefoundation protector sheet.

[0045]FIG. 11 shows horizontally rectangular or bar-shaped protrusions48 for engagement in corresponding recesses 50.

[0046]FIG. 12 shows a modified securement strip, which is indicatedgenerally by reference numeral 21, and which is similar to thesecurement strip 20 of FIGS. 1 to 4, except that in the case of thesecurement strip 21 the flexible flange 26 has been omitted. Thesecurement strip 21 therefore, does not provide a seal between themarginal edge portion 19 and the foundation wall surface. For thatpurpose, caulking or some other sealing means may be employed. However,the securement strip 20A, by itself or in combination with one or moreother securement strips (not shown) extends continuously along themarginal edge portion 19 and, therefore, supports and secures themarginal edge portion 19 relative to the foundation exterior surface 12along the entirety of the marginal edge portion 19.

[0047]FIGS. 13 through 15 show different forms of the protrusions andrecesses of the inner side of the securement strip according to otherembodiments of the invention.

[0048] More particularly, FIG. 13 shows frusto-conical recesses 60 in asecurement strip 120 which engage complementary protrusions (not shown)on a foundation protector sheet 19 a (FIG. 13A) on a foundation 12 a.

[0049]FIG. 14 shows a securement strip 220 with elongate protrusions 62and recesses 64 in the form of ribs having trapezoidal cross-sections.The protrusions 62 and recesses 64 inter-engage complementaryprotrusions and recesses (not shown) of a corresponding foundationprotector sheet (not shown).

[0050]FIG. 15 shows a securement strip 320 with protrusions 66 andrecesses 68 in the form of ribs having square cross-sections. Again,these protrusions 66 and recesses 68 interengage complementaryprotrusions and recesses (not shown) in a corresponding foundationprotector sheet (not shown).

[0051]FIG. 16 shows a securement strip 420 having slot-shaped recesses70 that extend from the flange 74 to a bottom edge 76 of the strip 420.These slot-shaped recesses 70 make the securement strip 20 more flexibleto facilitate coiling of the securement strip 420 for storage andtransport or cutting to size.

[0052]FIG. 17 shows a securement strip 20 having slot-shaped recesses 72in one side of the strip 520 and protrusions 75 on the opposite side ofthe strip 520, the protrusions extending around the slots 72.

[0053]FIGS. 18 through 20 show angled securement strips 20 for use ascorner pieces for securing foundation protector sheets around corners offoundation walls (not shown).

[0054] More particularly, in FIG. 18 reference numeral 620 indicatesgenerally a securement strip forming a corner piece for use with thestrip 520 of FIG. 17, and in FIG. 19 reference numeral 720 indicatesgenerally a securement strip forming a corner piece for use with thesecurement strip 420 of FIG. 16, both for use at projecting corners offoundation walls. In FIG. 20, reference numeral 820 indicates generallya securement strip 820 in the form of a corner piece for use in cornerrecesses of foundation walls.

[0055]FIGS. 21 and 22 show other embodiments of the securement strip forsecuring other forms of foundation protector sheets to foundation walls.

[0056] More particularly, in FIG. 21 reference numeral 920 indicatesgenerally a foundation protector sheet having upper and lower portionsindicated generally by reference numerals 80 and 82, respectively. Theupper portion 80 has recesses 84 and 86 on opposite sides. Thesecurement strip 20 has protrusions 88 complementary in shape to andinterengageable with the recesses 84. The lower portion 82 hasfrusto-conically shaped protrusions, on one side thereof, for abutmentagainst the foundation wall.

[0057]FIG. 22 shows a securement strip with frusto-conically shapedprotrusions 90 and recesses 92 that inter-engage a foundation protectorsheet with complementary frustoconically shaped protrusions 94 andcorresponding recesses 96. In this embodiment the foundation protectorsheet has a flat surface 98 that abuts a foundation wall.

[0058] The securement strips 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 920and 1020 are each formed with an elongate projection in the form of arib indicated by reference numerals 30 a-30 j, respectively, whichextends horizontally along the side of the securement strip which, inuse, faces the foundation wall. These ribs 30 a-30 j are of rectangularcross-section and in use are located immediately below flexible flanges26 a-26 j, which correspond to the flexible flange 26 of FIGS. 1-4 andserve the same purpose, and above the interengaged protrusions andrecesses of the securement strip and the foundation protector sheet.

[0059] In use, the ribs 30 a-30 j abut the foundation wall above thefoundation protector sheet and serve as a stop to limit the extent towhich the flexible flanges 26 a-26 j are deformed by the back fill.

[0060] Thus, as shown for example in FIG. 13A, which shows a broken-awayview of the securement strip 120 supporting a foundation protector sheet14 a which corresponds to the sheet 14 of FIGS. 1-4, on a foundationwall 12 a, the projection 30 a extends above the foundation protectorsheet 14 a to the wall 12 a and limits deformation of the securementstrip, including the flexible flange 26 a.

[0061] An elongate projection such as the ribs 30 a-30 j may be providedin place of the prongs 30 of FIGS. 1-4 and vice versa.

[0062] Still further embodiments of the securement strip of theinvention indicated generally by reference numerals 23 a-23 b in FIGS.23a-g, which each show a like pair of the strips.

[0063]FIGS. 23a-f show like pairs of securement strips formed with endconnector formations 100 a-f, which are interengageable with endformations 101 a-f of the respective like ones of the strips forconnecting the pairs of strips together end-to-end. FIG. 23g shows alongitudinally projecting end portion 102 at one end of strip 23 g foroverlapping a like securement strip to connect the two strips 23 gend-to-end.

[0064] As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, variousmodifications may be made in the above described embodiments of thepresent invention within the scope of the appended claims. For example,the protrusions may have various shapes other than those shown in theaccompanying drawings and described above.

I claim:
 1. A securement strip for securing an upper horizontal marginaledge portion of a foundation protector sheet to a foundation wall, thesecurement strip comprising first and second portions extending alongthe securement strip, the first portion having support formations forsupporting inter-engagement with the foundation protector sheet, thesecond portion comprising a flexible flange extending at an angle fromthe first portion for flexed engagement with the foundation wall abovethe foundation protector sheet and the first portion being adapted toreceive fasteners for fastening the securement strip and, therewith, thefoundation protector sheet to the foundation wall.
 2. A securement stripas claimed in claim 1, including a strip of sealing material extendingalong the flexible flange for sealingly contacting the foundation wall.3. A securement strip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sealingmaterial comprises a foam material.
 4. A securement strip as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the formations comprise substantially frusto-conicallyshaped protrusions.
 5. A securement strip as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe formations are elongate.
 6. A securement strip as claimed in claim5, wherein the securement strip is angled to form a corner piece for useat a corner of the foundation wall.
 7. A securement strip as claimed inclaim 5, wherein the formations are ribs.
 8. A securement strip asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the formations are of rectangularcross-section.
 9. A securement strip as claimed in claim 5, wherein theformations are of trapezoidal cross-section.
 10. A securement strip asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the formations are protrusions on one sideof the first portion and extend around respective slots in an oppositeside of the first portion.
 11. A securement strip as claimed in claim 5,wherein the formations are protrusions on one side of the first portion,the protrusions extending longitudinally of the securement strip, andslot-shaped recesses in an opposite side of the first portion extend atright angles relative to the protrusions.
 12. A securement strip asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the formations are of solid cross-section.13. A securement strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portionof the foundation protector sheet is formed with nail holes.
 14. Asecurement strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion isformed with at least one slot-shaped recess extending longitudinally ofthe securement strip, the slot-shaped recess being dimensioned toreceive and grip the tips of nails.
 15. A securement strip as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the flexible flange further comprises retainer membersangled downwardly from an upper edge of the flange for temporarilyretaining the securement strip on the foundation protector sheet duringinstallation.
 16. A securement strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein astop in the form of a projection on the second portion below theflexible flange is provided for limiting deformation of the securementstrip when in use.
 17. A securement strip as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe securement strip is angled to form a corner piece for use at acorner of the foundation wall.
 18. A securement strip as claimed inclaim 1, wherein opposite ends of the securement strip have endconnector formations interengageable with corresponding formations oflike securement strips for connecting the strips end-to-end.
 19. Asecurement strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of thesecurement strip is formed with a longitudinally projecting portion foroverlapping an adjacent like securement strip.
 20. A surface covering ona substrate, comprising: a) a membrane of plastic material; b) themembrane having an upper marginal edge portion; c) a support stripextending along the upper marginal edge portion of the membrane; d) themembrane and the support strip being formed with mutuallyinterengageable protrusions and recesses; e) the support strip having aflexible upper marginal portion extending upwardly into sealing contactwith the substrate beyond that the upper marginal edge portion of themembrane along the entire length of the upper marginal edge portion ofthe membrane; and f) fasteners extending through the support strip andthe membrane into the substrate and thereby securing the support stripand the membrane to the substrate.
 21. A surface covering on a substrateas claimed in claim 20, including a projection extending from thesupport strip to the foundation wall as a stop for limiting deformationof the support strip, the projection being located below the flexibleupper marginal portion and above the interengageable protrusions andrecesses.
 22. A surface covering on a substrate as claimed in claim 20,the membrane having an upper portion, the recesses comprising horizontalslots in the upper portion, and a lower portion with projections on oneside thereof for abutment against the foundation wall, the protrusionscomprising longitudinally extending ribs on the securement stripengaging in the slots.
 23. A surface covering on a substrate as claimedin claim 22, wherein the slots and ribs are of complementary squarecross-sectional shapes.
 24. A surface covering on a substrate as claimedin claim 22, wherein the slots and ribs are of complementary taperedcross-sectional shapes.
 25. A surface covering on a substrate as claimedin claim 22, wherein the securement strip is formed with vertical slotsin a side thereof opposite from the ribs.
 26. A method of securing afoundation protector sheet to a foundation wall, comprising the stepsof: a) positioning the foundation protector sheet against a surface ofthe foundation wall; b) interengaging protrusions and recesses in anelongate securement strip and in an upper marginal edge portion of thefoundation protector sheet; c) locating a sealing flange extending alongthe securement strip in engagement with the foundation wall surfaceabove the upper marginal edge portion of the foundation protector sheet;and d) fastening the securement strip to the foundation wall to securethe upper marginal edge portion of the foundation protector sheet inposition on the foundation wall.
 27. A method of securing a foundationprotector sheet as claimed in claim 26, which includes interengaging avertical end formation of the securement strips with a complementary endformation of an adjacent like securement strips to connect the stripsend-to-end.